Carline roof joint



Patented June 27, 1950 c emains ROOF I: IiiElIt'JI CL' MOD-trBQiL amilieat'iqn august-f 10, 1948, Serial No. 43;521

In cafnada' september 22, v

1 Introduction This invention relates to metal car roof joints and more particularly to a riveted joint adapted primarily for aluminum sheet roofs.

In the constructions of a car roof, the principal objectives are to provide a structure which is light and flexible in the right directions and has adequate load bearing capacity. To secure lightness and strength aluminum sheeting provides many advantages, but in the absence of an economical welding method for aluminum it has become necessary to devise a riveted joint providing flexibility and strength, as well as easy access to both sides of the joint for the riveting hammer and snap.

Objects surfaces forming the V being smaller at the ridge or center of the sheet and increasing towards each side thus diminishing the height of the joint to substantially zero and the angle to 180 at the eaves of the car, resulting in two substantially fiat overlapped edges, the angle at the ridge being sufficiently open to allow access of a riveting snap.

The drawings Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment, in which:

Figure 1 is a section through a car roof taken on the line II, Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of a car roof illustrating the spreading of the joint from the C/L or ridge of the car to the side.

Figure 3 is a section taken through the joint adjacent the ridge, line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section of the joint taken on the line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section of the joint taken substantially at the cave as illustrated by the line 5-5, Figure 2.

was; (ctfjiq I Referring more particularly to the drawings, A represents a car roof of the radially arched type, constructed of a series of light metal roof sheets l0, such as aluminum, having a diamondshaped bulge l2 in their central area. The roof sheets 10 are interconnected at their adjacent edges by specially shaped riveted joints I4.

The adjacent edges of the sheets I0 which are adapted to overlap, are shaped in inverted V formation by stamping or any other appropriate methods, the V on one sheet being adapted to nest with or overlap the V on the adjacent sheet, and be riveted together on each face of the V, the opposite rivets being staggered to permit proper access at the ridge portion. The two faces forming the V form a relatively acute angle at the center line or ridge of the roof, and the angle is gradually increased to as the joint progresses towards the edge of the roof. The angle X between the faces at the ridge must be sufficiently open to allow access of riveting snap. For instance the two faces 16 and 18 illustrated in Figure 3 form an angle X, said angle being large enough to allow the access of a riveting snap to the inside face of the rivet 22, as well as the staggered rivet 22 on the opposite face I8. As the joint [4 progresses towards the edge of the car, namely where the roof sheets are rounded over for connection to the side plates 24 of the car structure, the angle X is gradually increased (Figure 4) until at the rounded edge of the car the angle X equals 180 and the edges of the two sheets I0l0 merely form a substantially flat overlap riveted joint as illustrated in Figure 5. The rivets 22 are staggered from the face IE to the face l8 at predetermined distances depending on the tightness and strength of the joint desired.

Although the joint is primarily designed for use with aluminum car roof sheets, equal advantages may be derived from the joint using any metallic sheets, and therefore no restriction is intended by the use of the word aluminum throughout the specification.

Advantages The advantages of this type of roof joint are first the ability of being able to rivet the joint with easy access from both sides. The joint being in V formation allows for suflicient expansion and contraction over the entire length of the roof as well as providing the greatest strength at the ridge where it is depended upon to carry the additional weight of the catwalk. Further ad-Q limitations shall be placed thereon as may be re-' quired by the state of the prior art. 7 U

The sub-titles used throughout the specification are merely to simplify reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded. a;

I claim:

1. A car roof joint adapted for joining by riveting the adjacent sheets of a metallic railwas car roof, comprising, an inverted upstanding substantially V shaped marginal portion on the adjacent edges of each sheet, said adjacent marginal portions being lapped and riveted within the confines of said V shaped portion, said V shape being characterized by a substantially acute V adjacent to the ridge of the roof and diminishing in height by widening the V progressively towards each side of the car, said V beingsufiiciently open adjacent the ridge to perinit access of a riveting snap.

2; A joint, as claimed'in claim 1, in which the rivets joining the adjacent marginal edges are staggered in order to permit a, more acute angle of the V shape adjacent the ridge of the roof.

3. A joint, as claimed in claim 1, in which the included angle of the V shaped marginal portions increases to substantially 180 at the eaves in order to provide a substantially flat joint for v connection to the car structure side plates. J. M. RUDEL.

No references cited. 

